contemplating society (open)

[satin]

time: after dark
weather: overcast and raining hard

As Revan Haine's political campaign continued you'd find a very different Satin to the seemingly docile barmaid that had arrived a few years previously. Now she was part of a political movement that could well overturn centuries of bigotry and discrimination against her own kind and other non-human creatures.

Satin was dressed for comfort and mobility wearing a dark green strappy vest top and simple flat shoes. A waterproofed cloak, a long black skirt with slits in it and a gold chain with an ankh symbol hanging from it was her only concession to wizarding fashion. She also wore a hunting dagger on the left side of her slender waist which was secured by a ladies belt. The cloak hid this weapon but she was as entitled to wear this just as wizarding folk were able to carry a wand. Another smaller dagger was secured to her lower left leg and well covered up by the skirt.

As the rain tumbled of the hood she had been checking in the dingier places in Knockturn Alley while meeting contacts and catching up on news. She also lived in that disreptuable quarter but it was the only place she'd been able to find a flat at a reasonable rent. Now she was heading back to one of the few places still open in Diagon Alley; the Leaky Cauldron. She'd already taken on some animal blood obtained in Knockturn Alley but now she needed alcohol. Given her previous occupation she knew when the drink was watered down and when the measures were being served short.

[Suki Samini]

The tavern was nearly empty, the unusual decline in the nocturnal crowds that would often flood this place a welcome relief. Suki sat at the bar, the latest daily prophet spread out in front of her captivated most of her attention. Dressed in a simple ivory colored turtleneck and black pants, she didn't seem to be planning on doing much. She had been spending some time at the old place, remembering her former job here and occasionally running into an old classmate or friend.

The current article that sat in front of her was about this Revan Haine. She had continued to keep close tabs on his work after she'd left her mother in Romania to return to London. She approved of what he was trying to do to a certain extent, but something in her stomach churned whenever he came up. Her gut was rarely wrong so she knew something was up with him, though exactly what, she wasn't sure.

It was such a shame though. She could see the qualities of a great man in him, a leader, a role model, she could only hope her feelings were wrong. It would be a shame if the ministry found a dark secret about Revan or his campaign. They would destroy him so fast and no one would be able to even attempt his work again for years to come.

[satin]

The back door to the tavern opened and Satin silently slipped in and dropping her hood. She had no reason to hide her face now it was dark but her weapons were still hidden along with her strappy handbag. For good measure although she slipped the dagger on her waist into her handbag. After all she could access her leg dagger in an emergency.

So looking unarmed she confidently walked over the bar as water droplets rolled of her cloak. There was no mistaking what she was. Nosferatu, the undead, a vampire. Whatever term you used.

Looking over to the bored looking bartender she had two words for him when she did finally reach the bar. "Firewhiskey please" she said in her London accent but she had an inkling she'd seen the other customer before. Right now she wasn't sure how but a lot had happened to her over the past few years.

[Suki Samini]

Glancing toward the newest customer, Suki made no movement toward or away from her. She remained silent for a moment, continuing to read the paper before she finally spoke. "Firewhiskey....either you're planning on going to a party somewhere or you've been drinking alcohol for a long time." she said absently. She'd hung around this bar long enough to know what people usually ordered when they were doing one thing or another. Of course she seemed a bit odd to talk since there wasn't a single drink in front of her.

Of course she was keenly aware of what this woman was, but she wasn't too concerned. There were many more dangerous and troubling things out there than a single vampire woman. All the same she knew better than to get on her bad side, especially with non-wizarding creatures suddenly becoming bolder with acts taken against wizards and witches.

[satin]

Non-human creatures had good reasons to be bolder lately. What few rights they did have were almost stripped away by the Voldemort controlled Ministry and the Shacklebolt Ministry still had to rectify old injustices against them. The anti-werewolf laws Umbridge got passed were still on the statute book after all. On top of that vampire hunting still wasn't a criminal offence and the goblins still had reasons to be agrieved nearly having lost more than control of Gringotts bank during that dark time. Revan Haine had given these various groups hope and a common aim. Long awaited equality and the end of centuries of bigotry and discrimination.

Satin sat on the next door stool, glanced over to Suki but wouldn't give much away as she took a galleon out of her strappy handbag and got her change back. Sipping her drink she said in her London accent "its my first drink of the night. If theres a party afterwards I don't know about it yet."

The sip did tell Satin it was Old Ogden's brand but another sip and mulling over the taste told her something else.

"When I started to drink this it had more bite to it. Now its as tame as a mug of beer" she added glancing back to to Suki. Like Satin her clothes had a muggle feel to them as well as a simplicity of style. They also looked around the same age in physical terms.

[Suki Samini]

"Well I wouldn't know about that." Suki chuckled quietly, shaking her head. She'd only ever had a sip of Firewhiskey. That one sip was enough to tell her she didn't like it and she hadn't had a drop of alcohol since. It was amazing to say she'd worked here and managed that, but she'd only been a maid.

Finally folding the paper up, she layed it neatly in front of her. Turning her curious eyes toward Satin, she rested her crossed arms on the counter. "I'm surprised though. For some reason I wouldn't picture a woman like you to be hanging around a bar without plans." she said lightly, studying the vampire a bit closer. She seemed like a woman who had things to do. But then again, Suki was still learning how to read into the intentions of non-wizards, they were generally harder to pick apart. Maybe it was because she didn't hold common instincts and desires with them, maybe it was something else entirely.

[satin]

"You may not know about firewhiskey but I know it well. I used to be in the bar trade myself" Satin replied with a little relaxed smile. Seeing those curious eyes she wondered what the young woman was thinking but unable to figure out more for now.

"Sometimes you have quiet nights. Even vampires just like mortals have the occasional quiet evening" she added. She really needed something stronger than this but she knew there wasn't. So a tame drink would have to do. She truely had nothing to do tonight unless Belle dropped in unexpectantly. That would certainly raise her spirits.

[Suki Samini]

“I remember now….You used to work at the Hog’s Head didn’t you?” Suki smiled, fingers finding a strand of her hair to twirl like she always did. “I saw you there a few times.” Yet again she’d run into somebody she recognized from her time at Hogwarts. Maybe she should travel more often, this was actually rather fun. “I was sorry to hear that the place was destroyed. I used to enjoy spending time there, not as crowded as the Three Broomsticks.”

[satin]

"I enjoyed working there too. One of the few places in the wizarding world with a truly mixed clientele in terms of species. Also the only place I could get a job at the time and I do miss it not being there.

You usually didn't see the customers faces but along with goats pies, an occasional good conversation and quite a bit of dodgy dealings that was the charm of the place. There'll never be a place quite like it again" Satin replied before she sipped her glass again. She really did miss the Hogs Head but also had a hand in defending her customers as they made their own escapes. She in turn at the end of that night only owned the clothes on her back but it was just as well she was able to return to Romania for a break after all that excitement.

[Suki Samini]

"Although I can't say I approve of the business venture that took place there, I do wish that more places would be open to such diverse customers." Suki nodded, eyes slowly drifting over to glance at the article about Revan. "Having a drink is always more interesting when you don't know exactly who or what your neighbors going to be." She bit her lip slightly as she realized the rather crude phrasing she'd used. It was always hard to put these things delicately, especially when you didn't know how sensitive a person was.

[satin]

"If you liked the Hogs Head for that reason you'd love Bucharest. You'll find night clubs where wizarding folk can freely mix with oblivious muggles, werewolves, vampires and veelas. Places I also worked in prior to travelling again" Satin replied.

"I can usually tell better than mortals what people's race are. We just can and I know Veela's once they let a bit of power loose. Its a city I'd certainly recommend visiting if you have the chance" she lightly added with a little chuckle.

[Suki Samini]

Suki gave only a brief flash of a frown at the mention of veelas, but it was gone almost instantly. She had nothing against them really, she had befriended a few even, but they just made dating and such so difficult. But what could she do? It wasn't really all their fault.

After her quick recovery from the momentary slip up on the Veela's, she quickly responded to Satin "I've actually been to Bucharest. Although I couldn't manage to stay long enough to take in the culture and life there much. I had to move on quickly to the dragon sanctuary. Next time I visit I'll be sure to take your advise though." She knew most found her constant mentions of her journeys or work to be either annoying or rude, but it was a part of her life. Most things that made her unique were learned far from London and Hogwarts.

[satin]

Now Satin really had found some common ground between herself and the only other customer at the bar. If Suki thought her mentions were annoying it didn't bother Satin even if others could be bothered by them.

"So you went to the dragon reserve? Thats something I've never seen myself even with spending a few years in Romania. I was a muggle when I was turned so I didn't even realise this world existed.

Thats why I ended up in the Hogs Head and the village. So I could learn about it and have what wizarding folk take for granted. Some level of acceptance for what I was but it hasn't been easy. Thats why I loved working in the Hogs Head where I was accepted.

That night broke poor Aberforth's heart but I had a family to return to after that night. I suppose I was lucky in that respect."

A vampire coven was a family and she had that that suport network and sense of community. The ones who had helped heal a broken abused girl and made her the more open and confident woman she was now. It also helped having a mate and a lover and vampire relationships were long term.

[Suki Samini]

Suki nodded her agreement. “It’s always good to have someone to go to.” She knew what it was like to be without, even for a short time. She promised herself never to take a family for granted again. “I can’t imagine what Aberforth went through though. That place was his life, all he had left. It must’ve been like a nightmare come to life.”

She again chose her words and subject carefully. She didn’t bring up the dragon sanctuary again, knowing that there were several heated debates going on about them. Getting caught up in those situations could end her carrier before it even began. Of course she was pretty sure that this woman wasn’t anywhere near being involved in such things, but it was better safe than sorry.

[satin]

"It truely is unthinkable to have nothing. When you watch what you spent your whole life building up burn down it truely is heartbreaking. Like myself all he owned after that was the clothes on his back and the contents of his Gringotts vault.

Even with getting his insurance money it wouldn't have been a comfort to him. I haven't seen him since but I really hope he's alright. I feel like I owe him for giving me a chance when others wouldn't even consider employing a vampire" Satin replied in a soft and quiet voice as well as meaning what she said.

She was unaware of Suki's difficulties as well but she wouldn't be expected to know them. Romania on the whole was harmonious and the dragon reserve was regarded as international territory although administered by the Romanian Ministry.